Huu-ay-aht First Nations has identified “bringing our children home” as a priority for the Nation.
Work has begun on an important project to keep Huu-ay-aht children safe, happy, healthy, and connected with their families and culture.
Huu-ay-aht staff within the Community Services Department have been working hard to help support Huu-ay-aht children and families and have already shown leadership in building continuity and cultural connections for Huu-ay-aht children who are taken into care. But Huu-ay-aht government is also taking a careful and detailed look at what can and should be done under our Treaty powers to provide stronger support to our families and children who need it most.
An independent four-member Panel has been appointed by Huu-ay-aht Executive Council to explore and recommend changes and improvements that can be made under our Treaty to child and family services for Huu-ay-aht families.
The panel has respectfully requested that Huu-ay-aht citizens meet with them to share stories and experiences. The panel needs to hear and learn from our people and from all caregivers for our children to understand what is working and what is not working for Huu-ay-aht children and families.
The Panel wishes to hear from us about:
- You or your families experiences with child and family services,
- Stories you have been told that guide or anchor a Huu-ay-aht way of caring for children and families,
- Your thoughts and ideas about how to bring our children home and keep them safe, happy, healthy, and connected to our Huu-ay-aht culture.
The panel is open to meeting in whatever way people feel safe and comfortable to discuss these important issues, for example, with individuals privately and confidentially, with family groups, and in community gatherings.
Sessions have been held in Port Alberni and Vancouver already, and they are hosting another in Nanaimo on Sunday, February 26 at the Coast Bastion Hotel. The session will be from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and lunch is included.
Here is the agenda.